Australia Votes: Federal Election 2004

Matt Liddy's Poll Vault Weblog

'Great relief'

Liberal Senator Helen Coonan is very pleased with the way the results are shaping up but is still concerned about a couple of seats.

Helen Coonan ... relieved.

"Obviously I'm very pleased that we're seeing a very positive trend to the Coalition ... it's a great relief," Coonan said.

But she admits she still has some concern about Parramatta, where ALP candidate Julie Owens is narrowly ahead of incumbent Ross Cameron, and says Trish Worth is still facing a struggle in Adelaide. But apart from those seats, she says the Coalition's seats in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria look secure.

Coonan says she believes the Coalition's campaign on interest rates and keeping the economy strong clearly resonated with the electorate and says its 'L for Learner Latham' attacks also worked. She says that because times are good and the economy is strong, there was "no mood to change something that wasn't broken".